Flow control valve

Abstract

A control valve, suitable for modulating control of minute flow rates, comprising a cylindrical valve plug having a conical portion slidingly engaged in a cylindrical orifice sleeve, both terminating end portions of which are sealed within and against the inlet portion of a valve body; and wherein said orifice sleeve has one or more perpendicular passages cooperating with the conical portion of the plug to regulate the rate of discharge of fluid through the perpendicular passages as function of the axial displacement of the plug.

I claim: 
     
       1. Flow Control Valve, comprising a. a housing having fluid communicating inlet and outlet ports, and a central vertical passage interconnecting said inlet and outlet ports;   b. an orifice member suitably retained within said central vertical passage of said housing and having a central longitudinal bore, only one fluid conducting passage located within said orifice member and extending from the inner bore throughout the radial width of said orifice member;   c. sealing means located at opposite longitudinal terminating surfaces of said orifice member;   d. a generally cylindrical valve plug slidingly engaged within said longitudinal bore of the orifice member and, in the closed valve position, covering said fluid conducting passage, the terminating portion of the valve plug having a reduced cross-sectional area profile which, in the open valve position, overlaps the fluid conducting passage within said orifice member to generate a controlled flow area consisting of the product of the circumference of the passage and the distance between the inner wall of the central bore of the orifice and the portion of the outer profile of said valve plug located opposite said passage;   e. operating means attached to said valve plug.   
     
     
       2. A flow control valve as described in claim 1, wherein said reduced cross-sectional area profile of the valve plug has the shape of a cone with its smallest diameter at one terminating end of the plug. 
     
     
       3. A flow control valve as described in claim 1, wherein said operating means comprises a valve stem threadingly engaging said valve plug on one end and a valve actuating device of conventional construction at the other end. 
     
     
       4. A flow control valve as described in claim 1, having seating means located at one terminating portion of said orifice means, and wherein said seating means consists of a reduced diameter portion located near one plane terminating surface of said orifice member. 
     
     
       5. A flow control valve as described in claim 1, wherein said valve plug incorporates spring means to force the outer cylindrical wall of said valve plug into close engagement with the inner wall of the bore of said orifice member.